Senior Officer, Drugs Threat

Birmingham, Bristol, London, Warrington

Job Summary

The Drugs Threat Team plays a key role within the National Crime Agency's Threat Leadership Command, contributing to the national strategic response to the drugs threat and driving activity across the Serious and Organised Crime (SOC) system. Working as part of the Drugs Threat Leadership Team, the post holder will support the development and delivery of innovative, intelligence-led responses to some of the most significant drug-related harms affecting the UK. The role requires a highly credible and experienced individual who can confidently engage with a wide range of stakeholders, influencing activity and coordinating responses across law enforcement, government departments, regulatory bodies, international partners and the private sector.

Job Description

The post holder will utilise their knowledge of operational intelligence, investigations, threat leadership and the drugs threat landscape to identify, assess and respond to current and emerging threats across the entire drug supply chain, from source countries and transit routes through to border crossings and street-level supply and criminality. Drawing on subject matter expertise and operational experience, they will interpret and exploit intelligence and other information sources to identify opportunities for disruption, prevention and system-wide threat mitigation. The role holder will support the development of strategic and tactical approaches to targeting the highest harm threats, ensuring activity aligns with national priorities and contributes to the effective delivery of the Pursue, Prevent, Protect and Prepare (4P) framework.

Working autonomously and as part of multi-agency teams, the post holder will lead and support high-profile projects designed to tackle the most harmful drugs affecting the UK. They will develop and maintain strong collaborative relationships across the SOC system, building trust and confidence with partners to enable coordinated responses and maximise operational impact. The role requires the ability to identify gaps in intelligence collection, investigative capabilities and wider system responses, developing recommendations and improvements that strengthen the UK's ability to respond to evolving drug threats.

The successful candidate will assess intelligence, data, information and statistical products from a wide range of sources to generate insight, identify trends and emerging risks, and develop operational opportunities that inform tasking and coordination processes. They will commission intelligence activity to meet strategic and tactical priorities, monitor the effectiveness of national responses and contribute to capability development and wider change initiatives designed to improve the collective response to the drugs threat. The post holder will also be responsible for producing high-quality tactical and strategic reporting, developing briefing material for senior leaders and external partners, and delivering presentations to a range of audiences.

The role includes line management responsibilities and requires the ability to lead, motivate and develop staff while maintaining high standards of performance and professionalism. The successful candidate will possess a strong understanding of the drugs threat in the UK, law enforcement methodologies, prevention techniques and intelligence-gathering capabilities. They will have experience of analysing complex information from multiple sources, applying sound judgement in a dynamic and fast-paced environment, and translating insight into practical action. The post holder will demonstrate excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence, collaborate and deliver outcomes across organisational boundaries in support of the NCA's mission to protect the public from serious and organised crime.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Threat Leadership: Lead and coordinate the SOC system response to priority drugs threats, driving activity across partners and ensuring delivery of a coherent and effective 4P approach aligned to national priorities.
• Intelligence Assessment: Analyse and interpret operational intelligence, data, information and emerging trends to identify threats, risks and opportunities for disruption, prevention and threat mitigation.
• Operational Development: Identify and develop operational opportunities, using subject matter expertise and strategic awareness to inform tasking, coordination and law enforcement activity.
• Project Delivery: Lead and support high-profile projects targeting the most harmful drugs affecting the UK, managing priorities and delivering outcomes in a dynamic and evolving threat environment.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build, maintain and influence strong relationships across law enforcement, government, regulatory bodies, international partners and the private sector to coordinate effective threat responses.
• Capability Improvement: Identify gaps in intelligence collection, investigative capabilities and wider system responses, developing recommendations and initiatives to strengthen national capability.
• Intelligence Commissioning: Commission and direct intelligence activity to meet strategic and tactical requirements, ensuring collection activity supports threat assessment and operational priorities.
• Strategic Reporting: Produce high-quality tactical and strategic reports, briefings and assessments that inform decision-making, influence partners and support senior leadership.
• Partner Briefings: Represent the Drugs Threat Team at internal and external forums, delivering presentations and briefings that build confidence, shared understanding and coordinated action.
• Threat Mitigation: Develop and promote whole-system threat reduction, prevention and safeguarding initiatives that address current and emerging drug threats across the supply chain.
• Performance Evaluation: Assess the effectiveness and impact of national responses, contributing to continuous improvement, organisational learning and SOC system change activity.
• People Leadership: Provide effective line management, supporting staff performance, wellbeing, professional development and the delivery of high standards of operational excellence.